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The Agency Brief

The Agency Brief

Written by: Kurt Schmidt
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About this listen

 A weekly podcast for agency owners, founders, and executives. Kurt Schmidt covers the business side of running an agency: M&A, AI adoption, pricing, positioning, growth strategy, and the industry shifts that actually affect how marketing, advertising, and digital agencies operate. No campaign roundups. No fluff. Just signal, with an operator's perspective on what it means for your agency.

The Agency Brief also runs as a weekly newsletter at TheAgencyBrief.com.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-agency-brief--6227880/support.KRT LLC 2024 Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Politics & Government
Episodes
  • WPP Blows Itself Up (On Purpose)

    WPP Blows Itself Up (On Purpose)
    Mar 11 2026
    Kurt breaks down WPP's dramatic rebrand under new CEO Cindy Rose, why the holdcos still can't turn their AI stories into real business models, and what the new economics of AI compute costs mean for agencies of every size. Plus, the subscription pricing debate and a shift away from The Trade Desk's OpenPath.

    Visit Kurt’s coaching site at https://schmidtconsulting.group

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-agency-brief--6227880/support.
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    10 mins
  • Omnicom's Post-Merger Cuts and the AI Contract Gapmp3

    Omnicom's Post-Merger Cuts and the AI Contract Gapmp3
    Feb 24 2026
    Kurt breaks down Omnicom's first post-IPG earnings and the layoffs already underway, examines why AI is outpacing agency contracts, and covers the holding company consolidation wave. Plus, a concrete action item: update your own contracts before clients do it for you.

    Subscribe to The Agency Brief at https://theagencybrief.substack.com

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-agency-brief--6227880/support.
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    12 mins
  • WPP's Death Star Strategy and Why Indies Are Going the Other Way

    WPP's Death Star Strategy and Why Indies Are Going the Other Way
    Feb 16 2026
    Kurt breaks down WPP's major restructuring plans, Dentsu's leadership change, and why holding companies and indie agencies are heading in opposite directions. Plus: why marketers are hiding their AI usage and what agency owners should do about it.

    Subscribe to The Agency Brief at https://theagencybrief.substack.com

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-agency-brief--6227880/support.
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    7 mins
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